IN THIS ISSUE

MAY 2014

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

RIBBON CUTTING
Join Wightman Telecom on June 13 for their Grand Opening in Fergus (490 St. Andrew St. W)!Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12:00 noon. Food and refreshments will follow the ribbon cutting, along with lots of giveaways!

RIBBON CUTTING
Join Kelly and her team at Keltech Signs on June 20 for their New Location/Expansion Open House! (515 Dickson Drive - Unit A, Fergus). There will be a BBQ Lunch after.Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12:00pm

NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Join us at the Elora Legion on June 25 at 7:30am, where Ron Brouwer of True Auto Care will give us advice on keeping your vehicles in tip top shape.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Here’s a chance to see a modern dairy farm operation! On June 25, from 5:30pm-7:00pm ,wear your mucking about boots and join us as the Harrop families share Harrcroft Acres with us (7764 Nichol Sideroad 5, Fergus)RSVP: ijharrop@hsfx.ca *There will be plastic boot coverings for feet protection.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

BEST WESTERN PLUS FERGUS HOTELOur brand new hotel offers guests a complimentary continental breakfast, contemporary designed guestrooms equipped with coffee maker, office desk, etc. We are also connected to Mosaic Spa, and we offer an onsite fitness centre, business centre, laundry, and meeting room.
Subhash Nagpal, Owner
830 St. David Street North
Fergus ON N1M 2L2
519-843-2100info@bwfergus.comwww.bestwestern.com

FRESHCOFreshCo’s commitment is to provide the best discount grocery shopping experience by offering quality fresh food at low prices and with less compromise.
Patrick Anderson, Owner/Operator
753 St. Andrew Street West
Fergus ON N1M 3H2
519-843-1875fc9733owner@sobeys.comwww.freshco.com

THE LOCAL BARBERSHOPMen's haircuts and straight razor shaving.
Jacqueline Gramm, Barber
155 St. David Street North
Fergus ON N1M 2J5
226-821-5924

PRO OIL CHANGEWe are a Canadian owned and operated company that has been around since 1985. We provide regular parts maintenance to vital fluid replacement. All makes and models come under our care, and each and every service is fully warranty approved.
Bruce Gair, Owner
95 Parkside Drive West
Fergus ON N1M 3M5
519-787-7423fergus@prooilchange.com

MICHAEL CHONG REPORTS

The Government of Canada is focused on creating jobs and economic growth for all Canadians. In fact, Canada has the best job creation record in the G-7 group of major economies, creating more than one million net new jobs since the global recession of 2009. Of these jobs, more than 90 per cent are full-time, and more than 75 per cent are in the private sector.

These results are garnering international attention. Last month, The New York Times reported that Canada’s middle class is now one of the most affluent in the world, pulling ahead of the US and Europe. Canadian middle class incomes, once significantly behind the US in 2000, are now ahead.

The Times highlighted data from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS). Based on a number of surveys done over the last 35 years, Canadian middle class after-tax incomes have increased more rapidly than in other countries since 2000, a result of wage increases, interest and stock dividends and federal tax reductions. The LIS data demonstrates that the Government’s economic plan is working.

The Government has invested heavily in local infrastructure and controlled spending (the federal budget is on track to balance in six months), while growing transfers that support heath care, education and retirement. As a result, Canada is one of the few countries in the world with a triple-A credit rating and leads the G-7 in job creation, income growth and low federal debt.

The Government understands that keeping taxes low contributes to economic prosperity. That is why the Government, despite the global recession of 2009, continued to deliver Canadian families with tax relief. Since 2006, the Government has reduced the GST from seven to five per cent, created the Tax Free Savings Account, reduced the lowest personal income tax rate and increased the basic personal exemption, introduced income splitting for seniors and new tax credits and deductions. As a result, the overall federal taxation is at its lowest level in fifty years. A typical Canadian family is now paying $3,200 less in federal tax every year compared to a decade ago.

As the LIS data demonstrates, the after-tax incomes of Canadian middle-class families have increased significantly over the last decade, a result of wage increases and tax reductions. As a consequence, the incomes of the Canadian middle class are now among the highest in the world, ahead of Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Britain and even the US.

As the data demonstrates, Canada continues to lead at the international level. However, the economy still faces significant risks from factors that we cannot control. This is why the Government remains committed to staying focused on its economic plan.

Canadian families work hard to make ends meet and make every dollar count. The Government of Canada is committed to working hard for Canadian families, by putting in place policies that foster economic growth and job creation.

ROBERTA REPORTS

The Board of Directors and staff sincerely thank everyone who attended the Awards of Excellence Gala on May 15th, including our sponsors, nominees, winners and guests. Thanks also to the volunteers who worked on the Awards committee and to those who volunteered at the event. It takes many hands to make an event like this come together, so thank you all for everything you did! We had 215 join us to celebrate the excellence of Centre Wellington’s business and community. If you have any suggestions or comments about the event or process, please send me an email. The Board and Committee are always looking to see what is working well and what needs to be changed. If you have some energy to put towards a Chamber committee – please let me know too.

We are excited to help 3 businesses celebrate their new or expanded business in June. On June 4th we will be at Soothe (acupuncture clinic) to welcome Dan and Carmen Micu, June 13th Wightman Telecom will officially open their new Fergus store (in the old LCBO location) and on June 20th we are happy to celebrate with Kelly and Chris Hall of Keltech Signs in their new larger location! Details will be sent in your weekly Member Email.

There is still time to sign up for Chamber Golf Day on Wednesday, June 18th at Ariss Valley. You can sign up to golf, be a sponsor or just join us for dinner! This is a shot gun start and best ball format – so you can focus on networking and having fun!! Talk to Heather about signing up!

While things slow down a bit in July and August – we are already planning our Business Showcase on October 23rd. Sign up for an exhibitor table or to be a sponsor, or join us for dinner – or you can do all 3!! We have also set our Municipal All Candidates meeting dates as Thursday, September 25th at Elora Legion and Wednesday, October 1st at Fergus Legion. Both sessions will run 7-9 pm. More details will be forthcoming, so watch your weekly Member Email for updates.

June 12th is Election Day for the Provincial government…please make sure to VOTE and encourage your family and friends to vote as well.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE GALA

On May 15, 2014 the community of Centre Wellington gathered at the Fergus Grand Theatre, where outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals were recognized at this GRAND gala for their outstanding contributions to the local community. Lots of attendees dressed up in highlighting attire, networked, and enjoyed wonderful appetizers and desserts, followed by an awards ceremony.

Category award winners were:

Citizen of the Year: Barb Lustgarten-Evoy

Youth Citizen of the Year: Frederic Giguere

Agriculture/Agri-Business Award: Webfoot Farm

Community Social Responsibility Award: Community Resource Group of North and Centre Wellington

Gala and Winner photos can now be found on our website. Congratulations to all!

CHAMBER ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

On May 28, we held our Annual General Meeting at the Gorge Country Kitchen in Elora. We introduced our new directors:

Kira Bailey, Shift: A Family Health Centre - NEW

Bryan Paul , Ecclestone Financial Group- NEW

Rachel Luther, Target Pharmacy - NEW

Lynne Bard, Beyond Rewards Inc.

Janet Harrop, Harrcroft Acres

Aileen Hawkins, M&M Meat Shops

Stacey Aarssen, Sentry Group

Nathan Martin, Grant & Acheson (Smith Valeriote)

Joal Suraci, RLB LLP

Allan Teal, AL-DO-IT

Michael Weinstein of The Weinstein Group will continue to be our Past President.

Our new bylaws were also passed, and Paul Walker was named an honorary member for his countless years of service to the Chamber of Commerce.

If you were unable to attend, copies of the AGM report and financials are available at the Chamber office.

MONTHLY WINK

Get tech savvy - Using the latest technology will be vital for small to medium sized enterprises in 2014, so speak to your banker and research the best offerings for your business. Consider utilizing portable mobile payment devices, cashless payment options and other mobile online tools to get ahead.

*nab Business Resources and Insight

ARE YOU LUCKY NUMBER 10?

2014 marks the 10th year in business for Bensol Consulting Inc., whom of which offers the Chambers Group Insurance Plan to Chamber members.

To celebrate this milestone, every month they are going to randomly select a CW Chamber member to go shopping on them by giving $100 worth of Gift of Choice certificates, and a few other goodies.

This month's winner is Fergus Pools in Fergus!!

Congratulations! Keep an eye out next month to see if you are lucky number 10!

Disclaimer - Any opinions and articles in this newsletter, do not necessarily express the views of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce. We take every effort to ensure correct spelling and accuracy of information. If you have any comments or concerns, please email rscarrow@cwchamber.ca or phone 519-843-5140.

The Business Blink is a monthend email newsletter published by the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the business community. If you are not already a member, please consider supporting the Champion of Business in Centre Wellington by becoming a member.